Final hopes of Scottish football league reconstruction dashed

League reconstruction in Scottish football is off the table - after a final attempt to reconfigure the SPFL was quashed.

The SPFL consulted clubs on whether there would be enough support for a new 14-10-10-10 structure - with a team from each of the Highland and Lowland League added to League 2, and several clubs saved from relegation.

But just 16 of the 42 clubs favoured this move, which is not enough to progress the idea.

The league board says it has now "drawn a line under" reconstruction talks.

Separately, the ten Championship clubs have voted to approve a 27-game programme, with teams playing each other three times, rather than four, next season - with the campaign expected to be cut short due to Covid-19.

Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the SPFL, said: "In recent weeks, we’ve been consulting closely with our clubs regarding possible reconstruction and, based on the feedback we received, the board decided to ask all 42 clubs to give their views so that we could have absolute clarity, which we’ve achieved today.

"Whilst a number of clubs were in favour of a new divisional set-up, the support for it was insufficient and we will now move forward with a fixture programme for season 2020/21 based on the current 12-10-10-10 structure.

"Due to the restrictions forced upon us by the coronavirus outbreak, the Championship clubs also voted overwhelmingly to play each other three times next season, rather than four, which enables a later start to the Championship league season."

"Now that we have a confirmed structure for next season, the SPFL’s fixturing team will begin work on the Premiership fixture list, which will start on the weekend of August 1, and the Championship fixture list, which will start on the weekend of October 17."

Discussions regarding arrangements for Leagues 1 and 2 remain ongoing.